Fence



(No Model.)

G. WATT.

' FENGE. No. 286.750. Patented Oct. 16, 1883.

CZQiWM Attorneys IIA WITNESSES ll/II VIII/IA N. PETERS. Phmzrliiholupher. wwmpm n. c.

NITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

GEORGE \VATT, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 286,750, dated October 16, 188i.

Application filed May i5,1ss3. (XolmodclJ.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE WATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented a new and usefulFence, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to fences; and it has for its object to provide a fence possessing superior advantages in point of simplicity,dura bility, in expensivcness, and general efficiency. It consists in certain novel improvements in the construction of the same, as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 rep resents a perspective view of my improved fence. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section of the same. tion of one of the upright battens.

Fig. 3 represents a vertical see- Fig. 4: rep:

' resents a detail view of one of the wedges or he s.

like letters refer to corresponding parts in all the figures.

Referring to the drawings, A A designate the end posts of each section of the fence sitting within holes 13, dug in the ground. To

fasten the posts more securely in position, I provide tapering wedges or keys C, having an enlarged head, 0, said wedges being driven down beside the posts in the holes, the heads of the wedges projecting over and resting on the ground.

D designates the upright battens, formed of parallel strips d (I, secured with their faces close together by nails or other suitable means, and provided with recesses c 0, formed in said strips, and through which pass the connecting wires or ropes E, either plain, twisted, or barbed. As shown plainly in the drawings, the recess 0 inclines upwardly, while the other recess, 0, inclines downwardly, each strip of the battens D being formed with these recesses e, and thus the recesses c of one batten will fit over the wires, while the recesses c of the same batten will fit under the wires. Since each of the battensis provided with the recesses arranged as stated, the wires of the fence will pass through the upwardly-inclined recess of onebatten to the downwardly-inclined recess of the succeeding batten, and in this manner the wires are strung, so that the battens serve to hold the wires tight by means of the alter nate twining above set forth. At the upper part of said battens is aloop, F, twisted around and over the battens, and to said loop is secured a pole, G. The purpose of this pole is to give warning to and frighten people and stock away from the fence, and thus injury by the barbs will be avoided. In the lower portion of each post A, I provide an opening, a, extending throughthe post, and in said opening is in sorted a lever or bar of any convenient size. .By means of thelever the posts are turned, and

thus the wires can be tightened as desired.

In putting up my fence the posts A are placed in the holes B, which are dug by-any wellknown post-hole digger the proper depth and distance apart, so that when the sections are raised to an upright position the posts will readily drop into the holes dug for them.

Divide the spaces between the posts A into as will serve to hold said wirestight.

many parts as may be necessary, and at these several divisions place the upright tie-battens D, the bottom of the strips simply resting on the ground. Unroll the wire from spool, cut off the lengths needed for the sections, and drive one or more staples into each post at its proper place, so as to confine the ends of each wire to the posts firmly and strongly. The wire is then strung from post to post through the recesses c e ofthe battens D. The wire ofthe fence is twisted as it is strung, so that each strand can be readily inserted through its respective recess. It will be seen that the recesses are formed in each of the strips of the battens D, and since the strips are fitted together the said recesses come opposite each other, forming sets.

Thus each batten is composed of as many sets as there are strands to the fence, each alternate set of recesses in the battens inclining upward- 1y, as at c, the other sets inclining downwardly.

The wires are passed under the upwardly-inclined recess 6 of one batten and over the downwardly-inclined recess 6' of the other batten, and so 011 to the entire length of fence, and thus the battens, by their weight and by the peculiar twining of the wires through the same, The strips d, forming the battens, are secured firmly together by nails or otherwise, so as to clamp the wires in their respective recesses, and thus hold them permanently in their places. The fastening of the strips (1 close together, so as to clamp the wires, prevents said wires from sagging, separating, or otherwise opening to allow stock to pass through. To tighten the wires I insert a lever in the opening a of the post and turn said lever, which turns the post, thereby tightening the wires. WVhen the wires have become sufficiently tight, I insert the wedges or keys, and they are driven down beside the posts, which will be prevented from turning, and thus the wires will be held in thetight po sition and the entire fenceinade secure against damage. The wedges or keys obviate the necessity of ramming the earth around the posts, and when it is needful to remove the posts the wedges or keys are readily drawn upward out of the earth, and the posts becoming loosened by the removal of the wedges the fence may be taken down, rolled up, and removed in a short space of time without any damage to any part of the fence. The rolls, being in a handy form, can thus be readily handled with the aid of a man at each end of the roll without injury to the men by the barbs or other parts of the fence. The fence can then inclose another field or pasture, and thus my improved form of fence, while costing less in material and lessin building, may be removed with lessrexpenditure of labor and less injury to the parts than any fence heretofore made.

To tie the sections of the fence together, whether in a straight line of fencing or at an angle, I pass a piece of wire, I, several times around the adjoining posts, and then twist or 5 tie the two ends of the wire together.

It will be seen that my fence is Very simple and durable in its construction, and is ineX- I pensive and readily removable, besides possessing other advantages, which will appear apparent on observation.

It will be apparent that the recesses 66 may be dispensed with, as the strips d,when secured together,will sufficiently hold the wires from sagging; but I prefer the recesses, since all danger is avoided from this cause, and the wires will rest firmly in their respective seats.

Having described my invention, I claim as new- 1. In a fence, the combination of the posts A, battens I), and wires or ropes E, said posts being provided with openings a, in which a lever or bar is inserted to tighten the wires, and wedges or keys (3, to hold the posts secure, as set forth.

2. In a fence, the combination of the posts A, connected by the wire I, and provided with openings a, with the battens D, having recesses c e, the wi res E, arranged to pass through the recess a of one batten to a recess, 6, of the other batten, said wires being tightened by inserting a lever in the opening a and then turning said lever, and wedges or keys 0, adapted to hold the posts .secure when so tightened, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afliXed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE \VATT.

Witnesses:

MANFRED CALL, J. O. Haw. I 

